King Cosponsors Bill to Expand Internet and Cell Connectivity in National Parks

June 20, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), Chair of the Senate National Parks Subcommittee, is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to increase broadband and cellular service within U.S. National Parks. TheConnect Our Parks Actwould direct each National Park to assess where broadband service is needed and develop plans to increase service access. The legislation represents a critical step forward in improving public safety within national parks and promote the hiring and retaining of qualified employees for the National Park Service.
“America’s National Parks provide great opportunities to enjoy nature, but when emergencies happen, visitors should have modern connections to receive help,”said Senator King.“TheConnect Our Parks Actis a commonsense effort to improve access to emergency services, assist Park Rangers responding to crises, and expand growing digital services like park navigation. I look forward to our continued efforts to improve Maine and America’s great outdoors.”
Additional cosponsors of the act include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
TheConnect Our Parks Actwould:
As theChairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Senator King has been a long-time advocate for preserving public land. King was the 2020 recipient of the National Park Foundation’s first ever“Hero” Awardfor his leadership in passing theGreat American Outdoors Act(GAOA)and his lifelong dedication to environmental stewardship and advocacy. King’s work extends fromprior to running for elected office, through his years as Governor—where he was responsible for conserving more land across Maine than all prior Governors combined—to his currentservice in the Senate.
King has additionally been a strong supporter of expanding broadband access to increase connectivity across rural Maine and across the country. He, along with the Maine delegation, recently co-sponsored the infrastructure law to provide more than $30 million to support universal broadband access in Maine. Previously, King cosponsored theBroadband Reform and Investment to Drive Growth in the Economy Actto deploy affordable broadband networks nationwide. During the pandemic, he urged the White House toinclude funding for broadband in the coronavirus relief packageand joined other Senators inencouraging the FCCto administer the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBBP) to address the longstanding digital divide.
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